South African Dermatology Just Joined a Global Push to Fix Skin-of-Colour Care

Key takeaways

• The Skin of Color Society launched a Global Council on 1 September 2026, uniting 22 dermatology organisations worldwide.
• The Dermatological Society of South Africa is a founding member, alongside bodies from Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Madagascar and Tanzania.
• Skincare research has historically skewed toward lighter skin types, leaving real gaps in treatment guidance for melanin-rich skin.
• The visible-cast sunscreen problem is a well-documented, everyday example of this research gap in South Africa.
• South Africa's genuinely diverse population, high UV exposure and existing skin-of-colour researchers make it a strong site for this work.